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Advice from our online forum If you haven't visited " Breaktime, " our online discussion group, then you're missing out on a fascinating exchange of ideas, advice, and commentary. You'll find "Breaktime" on our Web site at www.fine homebuilding.com. Listed below are some recent highlights. Energy efficiency and windows CREATED BY TUFENHUNDEL: We are designing a highefficiency home and are concerned that installing lots of windows to take advantage of wooded views will interfere with our high-efficiency envelope. Should I just pay more for windows that won't defeat my insulation scheme? Posted by Mike Smith: You seem to be facing the eternal compromise. When you are building energy- efficient housing, windows are one of your biggest energy drains. But windows are also your eyes to the world and your access to light and ventilation. My philosophy is to design for summer and to insulate for winter. Choose a good window based on function, ease of maintenance, insulating value, warranty, and appearance. Your windows should be a "once in the lifetime kolbe-kolbe.com). They all make windows with good price-point-to-value ratios. Posted by MoltenMetal: Windows are beautiful, but & even the best ones are a major source of heat loss. My advice is to provide some secondary insulation. Heavy curtains are surprisingly helpful. What's the best interior paint? CREATED BY DPERFE: I'm at the point in my house project where I need to think about interior paint. I was wondering if anybody had advice on which brand to choose. 48 FINE HOMEBUILDING Posted by WayneL5: I've been happy with most of the big-name brands of interior paint. Anything but a lowend bargain line of paint has been fine. I often pick a product to support my local paint store and also to help avoid a trip to the big-box store. Posted by Cramps: I used Benjamin Moore (www. benjaminmoore.com) for years because it's what all the other painters swore by, but after reading an article in Consumer Reports, I tried American Tradition paint (www.lowes.com) and have been pleased. The paint covers well, and no one can tell what brand it is once it dries. If you don't want to pay for Benjamin Moore, then go with one of the top-rated paints in Consumer Reports. Posted by Zendo: All of the rna jor brands of paint work well, but the way the paint is applied makes the difference. You could buy the cheapest paint at the worst store and still do a killer job. But it will take a little less time and make your life easier if you spend more money. " All of the major brands of paint work well, but the way the paint is applied makes the difference. of your house" decision. Posted by LATEAPEX911: I agree with Mike Smith's view of the big picture. Many windows are pretty close in the energy ratings, but there are many considerations beyond energy efficiency. I would start a search with Marvin (www.marvin.com), Andersen (www.andersen windows.com), and Kolbe Windows Doors (www. " Silencing noisy garage-door openers CREATED BY ED HILTON: I need advice on how to isolate my garage-door openers so that they make less noise in the house. They are attached directly to the floor joists with screws and are installed below a bedroom with wood flooring over OSB (oriented strand board). Fiberglass-batt insulation is between the joists but in direct contact with the framing. Posted by Hawk647: Go to a glass shop and get a dozen or so chunks of rubber (glass shops use them for shimming insulated units). Insert the rubber between the bolted connections and the joists above to interrupt all the metal-to-metal and metal-to-drywall connections that are transferring the noise. You may need longer bolts depending on the thickness of the rubber you use, but you shouldn't need anything longer than Yz in. Posted by OOay: I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard that some people use belts from an auto-supply shop to suspend the opener from the ceiling. Just use